The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in December was recorded 5,597, down 6.4 percent from that of November, said the Hong Kong government on Wednesday.

The number of last month decreased by 52.5 percent on a year-on- year basis, according to figures released by the Land Registry in the day.

The 12-month moving average for December was 9,068, which was 5.4 percent below the 12-month moving average for November and 33.1 percent below that for December last year, said the department.

The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in the month was HK$32.6 billion($4.2 billion), down 24.4 percent from that of November, or a 38.9 percent year-on-year decline.

Among the sale and purchase agreements, 4,301 were for residential units, down 10.3 percent from November, said the department.

The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in terms of residential units was HK$25.7 billion.